Friday, January 9, 2015

Sheryl Browne: It's Been Quite a Year!

We are delighted to welcome Sheryl
Browne to the blog today.

Thank you so much for helping me to
share the latest news in my up and down writing journey. After a trying year,
which saw my partner diagnosed with prostate cancer (I mention this, because I
ended up having to apologise all over the place for my constant state of
befuddlement. I should also mention that his prognosis is extremely good after
early diagnosis - and that he is now very positive, agreeing to share his
progress with Prostate Cancer UK in hopes of encouraging other men to seek help
early), I finally DO have some lovely news to share.

Having written seriously for
fifteen years, mystified agents, and achieved several near misses, I am also
super-pleased to announce that I have recently signed with Choc Lit for my upcoming novel, currently
titled The Rest of My Life. This
development is all the more special because Choc Lit read the book on
recommendation of someone who restored my faith in my writing. Excitingly, the
news was announced first in The Bookseller! Wow! Little me rubbing shoulders
with Burt Reynolds and Julian Clary (form an orderly queue, guys). I owe this
person a huge debt of gratitude for picking up my book, loving it, and being
prepared to say so in the right ears.

As mentioned, I have been ‘at it’
for some time. Although I’ve been a little bit shy, I have been a member of the
RNA for some years. I was originally a member of the New Writers’ Scheme, which
offers invaluable advice on where your manuscript might be flagging (or
shining!) and generally encourages and supports new writers. My manuscript was
sadly flagging, something I was aware of. However, writing definitely being a
journey in my mind, I listened and learned, redrafted and rested that manuscript,
and I couldn’t be happier that that book, Warrant
for Love, is finally published and currently “touring”.

I therefore also owe huge thanks to
the NWS, an editor recommended to me by the RNA, and to Safkhet Publishing. I have
six books published with Safkhet, who not only commissioned me to write my
first book for them, having read and loved my writing, but opened an imprint
for three further novels. Despite my determination, I was at a point then where
I wondered whether continuing to pursue my dream was sheer self-indulgent, and
rather exhausting, madness. Safkhet believed in me. Bloggers, readers and reviewers believed in
me, cheering me every step of the way. I really can’t say thank you enough to
those wonderful people, who give of their time and work so hard for authors.

For me, being published with Choc
Lit is a dream come true. The best part of that dream is that it allows me to
do what helps me through, during good times and bad – and we ALL have the
latter, the one thing that keeps me sane (though some would question that!). It
gives me the impetus to keep writing. Maybe I would have kept going anyway. It
is my passion (can you tell?). I do know, though, that having a support network
counts for an awful lot. Published or self-published, there are some extremely
talented authors out there. I’m proud to know many of them and share in their
publishing journeys.

COMING SOON from Choc Lit

The Rest of My
Life - Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to
bring Adam and Sienna together?

Heartache,
humour, love, loss & betrayal - and a little Ohhhh la la! Sheryl Browne
brings you edgy, sexy, poignant fiction. A member of the Romantic Novelists’
Association and shortlisted for Innovation in Romantic Fiction, Sheryl has six
books published with Safkhet Publishing and has now been signed with Award
winning Choc Lit Publishing.

Thank you so much, Natalie for featuring me so beautifully on the RNA blog. I really do owe a huge debt of gratitude to those people who have supported me. Thrilled to bits to be continuing my writing journey. x

Welcome to the Choc Lit 'family' Sheryl. it's lovely to read of a success story, especially about someone who has come through the NWS. Your novel sounds intriguing and I shall look forward to it. Fingers crossed that all continues to go well for your partner.

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Romantic Novelists' Association

We work to enhance and promote the various types of romantic and historical fiction, to encourage good writing in all its many varieties, to learn more about our craft and help readers enjoy it.

Romantic Fiction covers an enormous range, from short stories through category romance and much of women's fiction, to the classics. The nature of romantic fiction means that most of these novels are written and read by women. The RNA, however, boasts a number of very successful male authors amongst their membership.